making your web site senior friendly: a checklist
TRANSCRIPT
Senior Friendly
A Checklist
Making Your Web Site
Published by the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine
National Institute on Aging
By implementing this Checklist, web designers can help open the Internet to great numbers
of people over 60 who want to know more about their health and aging.
Director
"Good information is the best medicine for older
designers can help seniors find answers to their medical questions from the comfort of their own home thanks to this Checklist and the Internet."
Director National Library of Medicine
Richard J. Hodes, M.D.
National Institute on Aging
adults. Web site
Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D.
The goal of this Checklist
is to provide research
eople age 60 andP based guidelines for web
site design that, when
older now constitute implemented, will make
the fastest growing web sites more accessible
group of computer to all adults.
users and informa
tion seekers on the World Wide Web.1 They
go on line principally to find health informa
tion, to plan personal travel and for e-mail.2
While advanced age is not a hindrance to
computer or Internet use, there are normal,
gradual age-associated declines in vision and
certain cognitive abilities that may limit the
use of electronic technology. In the last two
decades, the National Institute on Aging
has funded a number of basic and applied
cognitive aging studies, focus groups and
usability tests, and survey research on how
age-associated changes affect computer use.3
1 U.S. Department of Commerce, 1999 2 Morrell, Mayhorn & Bennett, 2000 3 Research conducted by Elizabeth A. Bosman, Neil
Charness, Sara J. Czaja, Katherine V. Echt, Arthur D. Fisk, Catherine L. Kelley, Sherry E. Mead, Roger W. Morrell, Denise C. Park, Wendy A. Rogers, and Joseph Sharit
Designing Readable Text for Older Adults
Changes in vision that occur with age can make
it more difficult to read a computer screen. These
include reductions in the amount of light that
reaches the retina, loss of contrast sensitivity,
and loss of the ability to detect fine details.1
Following the guidelines will improve readability
of online text.2
Typeface
Use a sans serif typeface, such as Helvetica, that is not condensed. Avoid the use of serif, novelty, and display typefaces.
Sans Serif: Helvetica Arial Univers News Gothic
Serif: Times New Roman
Novelty: Old English Text
Display: Bodoni Poster
Type Size
Use 12 point or 14 point type size for body text.
12 point: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.
14 point: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.
1 Echt, 2002 2 Hartley, 1999
Type Weight
Use medium or bold face type.
Helvetica Medium abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Helvetica Bold abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Capital and Lowercase Letters
Present body text in upper and lowercase letters. Use all capital letters and italics in headlines only. Reserve underlining for links.
Physical Spacing
Double space all body text.
Justification
There are three ways to justify type: left, full, or center justified. Left justified text is optimal for older adults.
This is an example of left justification. Left justification allows an even left margin and an uneven right margin. This is an example of left justification. Left justification allows an even left margin and an uneven right margin. This is an example of left justification.
This is an example of full justification. Full justification refers to text lines that are spaced so that the margins on either side are equal. This is an example of full justification. Full justification refers to text lines that are spaced so that the margins on either side are equal. This is an example of full justification.
Designing Readable Text for Older Adults
This is an example of center justification. Center justification balances text around a central axis. This is an example of center
justification. Center justification balances text around a central axis. This is an example
of center justification.
Color
Backgrounds
Avoid yellow and blue and green in close proximity. These colors and juxtapositions are difficult for some older adults to discriminate. Ensure that text and graphics are understandable when viewed on a black and white monitor.
Use dark type or graphics against a light background, or white lettering on a black or dark-colored background. Avoid patterned backgrounds.
Presenting Information to Older Adults
Research shows that the ability to perform
some mental operations decreases with age.
These operations include the ability to simulta
neously remember and process new information,
to perform complex cognitive tasks, and to com
prehend text.1 Although these changes are not
usually dramatic, their presence can interfere
with the performance of some daily tasks such
as using a computer. 2
Older adults also process information more slowly
than younger adults. There are effective ways to pre
sent text to mediate these age-related changes.2
Style
Writing the Text
Present information in a clear and familiar way to reduce the number of inferences that must be made. Use positive statements.
Simplicity
Phrasing
Use the active voice.
Write the text in simple language. Provide an online glossary of technical terms.
Organization
Organize the content in a standard format. Break lengthy documents into short sections.
1 Craik & Salthouse, 2000 2 Czaja & Sharit, 1998; Morrell, 1997
Incorporating Other Media
Illustrations and Photographs
Use text-relevant images only.
Animation, Video and Audio
Use short segments to reduce download time on older computers.
Text Alternatives
Provide text alternatives such as open-captioning or access to a static version of the text for all animation, video, and audio.
Increasing the Ease of Navigation
Also consider these navigational features when
designing a web site for older adults.1
next. Carefully label links.
The Mouse
Navigation
The organization of the web site should be simple and straightforward. Use explicit step-by-step navigation procedures whenever possible to ensure that people understand what follows
Use single mouse clicks to access information.
Consistent Layout
Use a standard page design and the same symbols and icons throughout. Use the same set of navigation buttons in the same place on each page to move from one web page or section of the web site to another. Label each page in the same location with the name of the web site.
Menus
Style and Size of Icons and Buttons
Incorporate text with the icon if possible, and use large buttons that do not require precise mouse movements for activation.
Use pull down menus sparingly.
1 Charness, Kelley, Bosman & Mottram, 2001; Rogers & Fisk, 2000; Mead, Batsakes, Fisk, & Mykityshyn, 1999
Increasing the Ease of Navigation
Scrolling
Avoid automatically scrolling text. If manual scrolling is required, incorporate specific scrolling icons on each page.
Site Maps
Backward / Forward Navigation
Incorporate buttons such as Previous Page and Next Page to allow the reader to review or move forward.
Provide a site map to show how the site is organized.
Hyperlinks
Use icons with text as hyperlinks.
Help and Information
Offer a telephone number for those who would prefer to talk to a person or provide an e-mail address for questions or comments.
A Final Check of the Web Site
Solicit unbiased comments from older adults
through focus groups, usability testing or other
means, to evaluate the accessibility and friendli
ness of the web site.
NIH Senior Health.gov
For an example of a senior friendly web site that was developed in accordance with these guidelines, log on to www.nihseniorhealth.gov. This web site was jointly developed by the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine.
References and Further Reading
References
Charness, N., Kelley, C.L., Bosman, E.A., and Mottram,
M. Word processing training and retraining:
Effects of adult age, experience and
interface. Psychology and Aging, 16 (2001):
110-27.
Craik, F.I.M., and Salthouse, T.A. The Handbook of
Aging and Cognition. Mahwah, NJ:
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2000.
Czaja, S.J., and Sharit, J. Ability-performance
relationships as a function of age and
task experience for a data entry task.
Journal of Experimental Psychology:
Applied, 4 (1998): 332-51.
Echt, K.V. Designing web-based health information
for older adults: Visual considerations and
design directives. In R.W. Morrell, ed. Older
Adults, Health Information, and the World
Wide Web, 61-88. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence
Erlbaum Associates, 2002.
Hartley, J. What does it say? Text design, medical
information, and older readers. In D.C. Park,
R.W. Morrell, and K. Shifren, eds. Processing
of Medical Information in Aging Patients,
233-48. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum
Associates, 1999.
Holt, B.J. Creating Senior-Friendly Web Sites. Center
for Medicare Education, 1 (2000): 1-8.
Mead, S.E., Batsakes, P., Fisk, A.D., and Mykityshyn, A.
Application of cognitive theory to training
and design solutions for age-related
computer use. International Journal of
Behavioral Development, 23 (1999): 553-73.
Morrell, R.W. The application of cognitive theory in aging
research. Cognitive Technology, 2 (1997): 44-47.
Morrell, R.W., Mayhorn, C.B., and Bennett, J. A survey
of World Wide Web use in middle-aged and
older adults. Human Factors, 42 (2000): 175-82.
Rogers, W.A., and Fisk, A.D. Human factors, applied
cognition, and aging. In F.I.M. Craik andT.A.
Salthouse, eds. The Handbook of Aging and
Cognition, 2nd ed., 559-91. Mahwah, NJ:
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2000.
U.S. Department of Commerce. Americans in the
Information Age - Falling Through the Net.
www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/digitaldivide/
(1999).
For Further ReadingFor Further Reading
Charness, N. Aging and communication: Human factors
issues. In N. Charness, D.C. Park, and B.A.
Sabel, eds., Communication, Technology
and Aging: Opportunities and Challenges
for the Future, 1-29. New York: Springer
Publishing Company, 2001.
Czaja, S.J., and Sharit, J. Age differences in attitudes
toward computers. Journal of Gerontology:
Psychological Sciences, 53B, (1998): 329-40.
Echt, K.W., Morrell, R.W., and Park, D.C. The effects of
age and training formats on basic computer
skill acquisition in older adults. Educational
Gerontology, 24 (1998): 3-25.
Ellis, D.E., and Kurnaiwan, S.H. Increasing the usability
of online information for older users: A case
study in participatory design. International
Journal of Human Computer Interaction, 12
(2000): 263-76.
Further Reading
Holt, B.J., and Morrell, R.W. Guidelines for web
site design for older adults: The ultimate
influence of cognitive factors. In R.W. Morrell,
ed., Older Adults, Health Information, and
the World Wide Web, 109-32. Mahwah, NJ:
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2002.
Kelley, C.L., Morrell, R.W., Park, D.C., and Mayhorn, C.B.
Predictors of electronic bulletin board system
use in older adults. Educational Gerontology,
25 (1999): 19-35.
Morrell, R.W., Dailey, S.R., and Rousseau, G.K. Applying
Research: the NIH SeniorHealth.gov Project. In
K.W. Schaie and N. Charness, eds., The Impact
of Technology on Successful Aging. New York:
Springer Publishing (in press).
Morrell, R.W., Mayhorn, C.B. and Bennett, J. Older
Adults Online in the Internet Century. In R.W.
Morrell, ed., Older Adults, Health Information,
and the World Wide Web, 43-60. Mahwah, NJ:
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2002.
Morrow, D.G., and Leirer, V.O. Designing medication
instructions for older adults. In D.C. Park,
R.W. Morrell, and K. Shifren, eds., Processing
of Medical Information in Aging Patients,
249-66. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum
Associates, 1999.
Rousseau, G.K., Jamieson, B.A., Rogers, W.A.,
Mead, S.E., and Sit, R.A. Assessing the
usabilty of online library systems. Behaviour
and Information Technology, 17 (1998): 274-81.
Seniornet. Research on Seniors Computer and
Internet Usage: Report of a National Survey.
www.seniornet.org/research/ (1998).
National Institute on Aging www.nia.nih.gov
National Library of Medicine www.nlm.nih.gov
National Institutes of Health www.nih.gov
Rev. September, 2002